Downtown Boys, PWR BTTM, Priests, Sheer Mag, Screaming Females, Helado Negro, Immortal Method, Allison Crutchfield, Sad13, Merchandise, Jay Som, Girlpool, and much more have signed an open up letter directed to SXSW in wake of the the latest controversy surrounding the festival’s deportation clause in its artist settlement. “As artists and component of the musical neighborhood of SXSW, we’re outraged to study that the competition has been threatening artists who are not U.S. citizens with qualified immigration enforcement and deportation for actively playing at unofficial showcases,” the letter reads. “We are contacting on SXSW to straight away fall this clause from their contract, and stop any collusion with immigration officers that places performers in danger.”

The letter goes on to also specially demand from customers a public apology from the competition “for their attempt to collaborate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” as properly as affirmation “that it is a welcoming place for all artists, including immigrants and worldwide performers, and commit to defending the rights of all performers.” Study the complete letter listed here and under.

Earlier currently, SXSW CEO and co-founder Roland Swenson issued a assertion contacting the predicament a “misunderstanding,” outlining that the competition has in no way been place in the placement to notify immigration authorities of any artists’ steps and that the language regarding deportation was integrated “to safeguard SXSW and the interests of all the taking part artists.”

An Open up Letter to SXSW:

As artists and component of the musical neighborhood of SXSW, we’re outraged to study that the competition has been threatening artists who are not U.S. citizens with qualified immigration enforcement and deportation for actively playing at unofficial showcases. In mild of the latest assaults on immigrant communities, this observe is significantly chilling. We are contacting on SXSW to straight away fall this clause from their contract, and stop any collusion with immigration officers that places performers in danger.

Austin, TX is a sanctuary town and these steps by SXSW clearly show a disrespect for municipal policy. SXSW is a properly revered institution and has a duty to clearly show leadership by refusing to collaborate with the government’s campaign of concern and loathe toward non-citizens.. This is a escalating open up letter with concrete requires that SXSW wants to choose.

WE the artists who make SXSW achievable demand from customers the pursuing:

SXSW should rescind the part of their contract that states that if they located out that an artist is actively playing an unofficial showcase they will “notify the correct U.S. Immigration authorities of the earlier mentioned steps,” and “accepting and executing at any non-sanctioned activities may outcome in fast deportation, revoked passport, and denied entry by US Customs Border Patrol at US points of entry.”

SXSW should publicly apologize to the neighborhood for their attempt to collaborate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

SXSW should affirm that it is a welcoming place for all artists, including immigrants and worldwide performers, and commit to defending the rights of all performers.

“SXSW has directly contributed to escalating gentrification in our town. SXSW is responsible for the ongoing destruction of people households and corporations. Locals listed here who enjoy audio and directly add to the economic system can no for a longer time are living listed here thanks to stagnant wages and soaring rental expenses. We are 1 of the biggest escalating cities but all of our PoC are getting forced out because this ongoing tradition is unsustainable. ICE is focusing on really hard doing the job men and women in Austin so this will come as a slap in the encounter to everyone that life listed here when we are already susceptible and the administration desires to make an case in point of us because we a sanctuary city” Milo Royal, a musician and employee in Austin

We are white US citizens making use of that privilege to have interaction with you, sxsw, to reconsider colluding w/ ICE and hence, the Trump’s routine racist agenda. Please modify your language and actively aid and safeguard immigrant and non-white artists. -Priests, Sister Polygon Records

“I recognize that this language has been in your settlement for numerous several years (though that will not imply it was at any time correct). This year, you have place on a showcase that includes artists from countries outlined in the Muslim ban. The language in your artist agreements need to replicate your aid of these artists instead than besiege them. Please do the correct matter and change your language to correctly replicate the present political climate.” Joe Steinhardt, Don Giovanni Records

“Music knows no borders. SXSW bullying bands who have associates that are not U.S. citizens is chilling, and frankly racist. It undermines artists’ fundamental rights to no cost speech, and sends the wrong concept at a time when immigrant communities are going through an all out assault from the U.S. government.” – Evan Greer, musician and Campaign Director of Struggle for the Future

“SXSW host’s a competition that has some potential advantages for artists. When it is a fantastic time to get your audio and probably concept out, there is a huge value to artists. Lots of of us have to enjoy underpaid exhibits in hopes that it can give our occupations a improve in the potential. If we experienced responsible arts and tradition funding and aid, we would not have to enjoy SXSW in purchase to secure a economically feasible potential as touring musicians. So numerous of the artists actively playing the competition are addressing and confronting the extremely electricity buildings that SXSW is perpetuating via their threats toward worldwide musicians. We demand from customers an finish to their threats and a public apology for their anti-immigrant and as a result racist said policy. Cities, counties, and states have all been urged to stop collaboration with ICE, we demand from customers the similar of audio festivals.” Victoria Ruiz and Joey L DeFrancesco, Downtown Boys